The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-04-30
HOW THEY MANAGED.
BIZ HELEN FOREST GRAVES.
saturday Nipht.l

k.~~~Sf my 0SoAB odtu MI AnCSuC9' We
are going TO move Saturday"
Mr.. and Mrs. Chesney were matrimonial
frm-there was no question about that-but
Mrs. Cheney had always been silent part
ner in the same.
elf ever / get married." said Elma, a
bright-eyed girl of seventeen, 81 will not be
put upon as Mamma p
"Papa is regular despot-that's what
papa isl' decided WIN, tall STRIPPING of
fifteen.)
"Where my dear?" asked Mrs. Chesney,
with little start.
Unto the country" said the family auto
erat "Im tired of this city business. 1t
costs great deal more than it comes to-
Pm told you can live at half the expense in
the country"
'But," gasped Mrs. Chesney, "what is to
become of the children's education9"
There is good district school in the
neighborhood, not more than mile dis.
tant," explained her husband "and exercise
well do them good"
"And what are we to do for society?"
"Pshaww said Chesney. 81 would not
give rap for people who can't be society
for themselves. There'l be the housework
TO do, you know-nobodv keeps girl in the
country-and plenty of chores about the
place forthe boys and I've bargained for a
couple of cows and some pigs"
''Will and Spencer looked askance at each
other.
eth do us good to walk mile to school,"
muttered the elder; ''but father must have
horse to carry him half a mile from the
place"
"That's fathers logic all over" observed
Spencer
Meanwhile Mr.. Chesney explained to his
wife the various advantages which were to
accrue from the promised move.
''It's unfortunate" said he, shat Elma
and Rosie aren't boys. Such lot of women
folks are enough to swamp any family.
Men, now, can always earn their bread.
But we must try to make everybody useful
in some way or other It's so healthy, you
KNOW" added he. 'And the rent won't be
half of what we pay here"
Are there any modern eonveniences
about the placer" timidly inquired Mrs.
Chesney.
There's spring of excellent water about
hundred yards from the house," said her
husband
Mrs. Chesney grew pale.
Have / got to walk q hundred yards for
every drop of water want?" said she.
"And large rain-water hogshead under
the caves Of the house." added Mr.. Chesney.
And I've already got some kerosene lamps.
As for candles, am given to understand
that the good housekeepers whereabouts
make 'em themselves in tin moulds. There's
nothing like economy Now do beg to
know, Abigail" he added, irritable, ''what
are you looking so lackadaisical about? Do
you expect to sit still and fold your hands,
while do all the work? Give me a woman
for sheer natural lazinessp
81 am not lazy, George" said the poor
wife, with bewildered air; "but-all this
is so new and strange at first But I'll try to
get accustomed to it'll try my very
best"
Nevertheless, Rosie and Elma and their
mother shed many salt tear into the trunks
and packing boxes, GU top of the wooden
blankets and rugs and piles of domestic
linen.
81 hate the country" said Elma. I'd as
soon 60 to prison and done with it. %
''0h, ELLIE, don't talk so," said Rose.
There are wild roses and robins there, just
as one sees on the painted plaques in the
store windows. Andiperhaps we can have
flower bed, and some dear little downy
chickens"
But the first sight of Mulenstalk Farm
was dispiriting in the extreme. Between
rock and swamp, there was scarcely pasture
for the two lean cows that Mr. Chesney had
bought at bargain, and the hollow-backed
horse, which stalked about the premises like
some phantom Bucephalus.
The apple trees in the orchard were three
quarters dead, and leaned sorrowfully away
from the last winds until their boughs
touched the very ground; the fences were
all gone to ruin, and the front gate was tied
with hemp string.
is this homer" said Elma, with an hides
cribacle information in her voice.
'We'll getithings all Strengthened up after
awhile" said Mr.. Chesney, bustling to drive
away the pigs, who had broken out of their
pen and were squealing dismally under the
window.
Mrs. Chesney cried herself to sleep that
night, and awakened, next morning with
every bone instinct with pains.
'And no WONDER" said Spencer. There
is foot of waterin the cellar"
1--WE must have it drained, but there are
plenty of things to do first" said Mr.. Ches-
ney, with an uneasy look.
And now began reign of the strictest
economy. Mr.. Chesney himself paid for
everything with cheeks, and not an article
came into the house or came out of it with
out his cognizance. New dresses were
frewned upon; spring bonnets were strictly
interdicted; orders were'issued that old car
pets should be reversed. and broken dishes
repaired with cement and quicklime.
''Save, save, save! That is the chief
thing" he kept repeating, briskly. "Wom-
en-folks can't earn; they should try their
best to save"
''It's all very well for papa" growled Will
HE goes to the city every day and sees
something besides the pigs and the dead ap-
pie trees. He orders new suit when he
needs it. Look at mammals patched gown
and Rosie's dyed bonnet stringsl Why, they
can't even 60 to church, they are such OBJ
jects He gets his lunch at restaurant and
we get cold beans, and drink dandlion coffee
and sage teal"
Boys" fluttered Rosie, 1--WE an idea. Ma
ry Penn, who lives on the next farm, you
know, came to see Elma and me yesterday.
Papa is earning his living; We'll earn some
thing too"
81 should like to know how" muttered
Spencer. II might hire somewhere as farm
hand, if it wasn't for that wretched old horse,
and the pigs, and the wood chopping, and
''0h, but there is something that won't in
terfere with the chores, nor with schoolp'
said cheerful little Rosie.
"Just listen-all ! ask of you is to listen p
And the weeks grew into months, and the
red leaves eddied down in little swirls from
the maple trees, and ''pig killing time" came,
and, with the aid of lame, one-eyed man,
Mr.. Chesney laid down his own stock of
pork and sausages for the winter with the
sense of being triumphantly economical
The family had left off complaining now
Apparently they were resigned to their doom.
But there were some things that Mr.. Ches-
ney could not explain at all.